Golden House Hidden Love Episode 21 Recap
> Golden House Hidden Love Recap
A long time ago, in a mysterious ancient eastern kingdom, a prince was born. His mother was a lowly slave and unfit to raise him, so the little prince was sent to the queen's palace. He grew up with the queen's eldest daughter, the princess, and they shared a harmonious relationship. As the queen never had a son, the prince, being the king's eldest, was made the viscount.
This viscount, born of a concubine, was benevolent and peace-loving, even sympathizing with slaves, leading to criticism that he was too kind and ineffective. Before going on an expedition, the princess introduced him to a very special woman, High Immortal Nan Hua. The powerful Nan Hua was not a deity but a mysterious ancient human.
Under her guidance, the viscount analyzed society's problems and implemented policies like abolishing slavery and establishing an examination system open to all, regardless of background or gender. He also rejected superstitions and promoted science. However, his good intentions were misunderstood and twisted, leading him to be seen as an enemy by the royal family, nobles, and even the slaves and women he sought to help. Despite setbacks, he refused to give up, trying repeatedly and moving Nan Hua.
Soon after, his birth mother was made a scapegoat, accused of bringing misfortune to the country, and was exiled. Pained and disappointed, the viscount was guided by Nan Hua to understand that some changes take generations and his vision might require hundreds of generations to realize. The viscount wanted to escape the deceitful palace, renounce his title, and live in seclusion with Nan Hua. But before leaving, he was caught in a planned royal coup, leaving his life in danger.
As he lay dying, he regretted not being able to witness the equal world he envisioned a thousand years later. To prevent him from dying with this regret, Nan Hua sacrificed herself, transferring her nearly eternal life to him, and vanished. After waking, the viscount was devastated, his memory becoming chaotic. He mistook himself for Nan Hua, imagining a promise to wait for the viscount's return, and remained in the house for over a thousand years.
Now, Li Chuchen has finally remembered who he is. Jin Xia checks on him, asking if he is okay and offering food or drink. He declines, wanting to go for a walk alone. Jin Xia agrees but is worried, silently following him. Ding Yanhai is also concerned about Nan Hua and follows Jin Xia. Ding’s sister, Jiang Xiaochuan, is also present and follows Nan Hua, sensing his sadness and believing they have a telepathic connection.
Ding teases her for stalking, while she retorts about his strange clothes and sneaking around. They admit they followed him out of worry. Jiang Xiaochuan calls Jin Xia, revealing she is pregnant and asking if she can come over. Jin Xia is shocked and tells her to come immediately. Jiang arrives and tells Jin Xia the child is hers and the father plans to send them abroad.
Jin Xia asks why she won't have the baby domestically so Jin Xia can care for her. Jiang explains it will be an illegitimate child. Ding Yanhai is with them. Jin Xia asks if the father is Li Yingjun, the Mr. Li who hired Nan Hua for a design project. Jiang confirms it. Overhearing, Nan Hua (Li Chuchen) asks when this happened, why she didn't tell him, and about the illegitimate child.
Jiang explains Li Yingjun is the only son and heir of Qingshi Group, while she is just a KOL, believing his family would never accept her. Jin Xia is upset she hid such a big thing. Jiang admits she was conflicted about the relationship.
Jin Xia insists Jiang is the best woman and worthy of anyone, reminding her of how Jiang encouraged her when she was insecure and urged her not to become a coward, asking where her confident self has gone. Jin Xia stresses that status is not important in this era and that if they love each other, they should disregard societal barriers.
She promises to support Jiang completely if they love each other, or help her deal with the child if they don't, assuring her they can face anything together. Jiang apologizes, saying she isn't as brave as Jin Xia thinks and has things she fears facing. Nan Hua (Li Chuchen) says he is tired and retreats to his room. Jiang wonders what is wrong. Ding says he is preoccupied. Ding encourages Jiang not to worry about others. Jin Xia comforts Jiang.
Ding brings Jiang fruit tea, good for pregnant women, and acts overly attentive, checking information about pregnancy and offering a leg massage to help with potential swelling. Jiang teases him about being different, and Ding says he only acts this way for her. Ding asks if she decided about going abroad. Jiang says she would miss Jin Xia, her best friend like a sister and her only relative besides Nan Hua, after knowing each other for ten years.
Jiang mentions Nan Hua will look after Jin Xia for her, but Jin Xia insists Nan Hua cannot replace her. Jin Xia wants to ensure Mr. Li treats Jiang well. Jiang assures her he is very good and responsible. Jin Xia trusts her and vows to be Jiang and the baby's strongest support, just as Jiang supported Jin Xia previously, helping her find the house, meet Nan Hua, and be with him. Jiang calls it destiny.
Jiang later confides in Jin Xia that Nan Hua wasn't waiting for her but for himself, describing his thousand-year wait as self-deception and a foolish act based on an imagined promise to the viscount. Jin Xia notices Jiang has fallen asleep, and Ding comments that pregnant women get tired easily. Li Chuchen is restless that night. He tells Jin Xia he is thinking about how his restored ancient memories connect many things, except for the ancient cherry tree.
He remembers it was originally a pair, one pink and one white, but only the pink remained after he received the real Nan Hua's life. Jin Xia suggests the white tree disappeared when the real Nan Hua sacrificed herself. Li Chuchen asks Jin Xia why she isn't asleep. She says they haven't had time alone since he woke up and she missed him. He apologizes for neglecting her. She says it's okay because he had a lot on his mind.
She asks if she should continue calling him Nan Hua or use Li Chuchen. He says names are just labels, and he has used Nan Hua for so long, calling it a memorial to the real Nan Hua, and doesn't mind which name she uses. Jin Xia worries about how he feels, knowing someone sacrificed for him, saying it must be worse than death for him, especially realizing his millennia-long wait was an illusion.
Li Chuchen expresses a desire to return to Globefish Town, the site of his ancient kingdom's capital, where he met the High Immortal Nan Hua, to revisit it and say goodbye to the real Nan Hua. Jin Xia promises to go with him wherever he goes. The next morning, the lamp is broken again, which Li Chuchen finds interesting. Ding Yanhai's mother tells him to go to work early. He replies he has to go early so he isn't late.
Ding meets Li Chuchen and Jin Xia outside, saying he needs to tell Li Chuchen something important about Jiang, having developed his own suspicions about her condition. Jiang Xiaochuan appears, ready to go, stating she will accompany them to relax. Ding offers to go along, intending to prevent Jiang from potentially harming Nan Hua, as revealed in the plot summary. Jiang claims she is on holiday, which Ding confirms. They all agree to go to Globefish Town together.
Ding asks Li Chuchen what he was going to say earlier. Jiang interrupts, saying he was just telling him to eat breakfast. Ding finds this answer strange. They depart. On the way, Jiang feels carsick. Ding expresses concern about her health and suitability for a long trip. Jiang tells him not to overreact. Ding insists that as a pregnant woman, she needs care. He asks Nan Hua (Li Chuchen) to check her pulse, knowing he can.
Jiang refuses, claiming she is fine and has already seen a doctor, and doesn't want Nan Hua's subsequent nagging. Ding persists, but Jiang maintains there is nothing wrong. She steps out to call Yingjun, mentioning the importance of the "charging thing" succeeding for the "Golden House Hidden Love Project" so she won't need her current body, which reveals she has a hidden agenda tied to these plans.
Later, at the house in Globefish Town (Jin Xia's hometown), Li Chuchen cooks a meal which everyone enjoys. Jiang says Li Chuchen's cooking is amazing and tells Ding to clean up as he ate the most. Ding argues Jin Xia ate a lot too. Jin Xia offers to clean, and Ding joins her. Lin Jiarui calls Jin Xia, asking about the previous owner of the house and mentioning Zhou Yinting's wish for Jin Xia to inherit her estate.
Li Chuchen explains that Zhou Yinting, knowing she is old and dying, apologized for past wrongs and wants to leave all her assets to him. Li Chuchen feels he cannot accept, believing the assets are rightfully hers and he lacks the standing to inherit them. Zhou Yinting claimed Li Chuchen is the child of her illegitimate son and intended to formally recognize him as family. Jiang is surprised to learn Zhou had an illegitimate son.
Li Chuchen confirms Zhou wants him to inherit her listed company but he is undecided. Jiang asks why not, arguing it's his rightful inheritance, not a gift. She also points out Zhou's company, dealing in jewelry and fashion, could provide valuable contacts for Jin Xia's studio. Jin Xia urges Li Chuchen to prioritize his own feelings, not hers. Ding believes Li Chuchen's desires align with Jin Xia's well-being. Jiang encourages him to take the substantial wealth.
Jin Xia tells Jiang to let him decide. Li Chuchen agrees to think it over. They decide to rest early as they plan to visit the ancestral hall site tomorrow. Late at night, Li Chuchen contemplates taking over Zhou Yinting's company. He acknowledges it could benefit Jin Xia's studio by providing necessary connections and resources, but it would require significant time to learn the business and might mean leaving Wangqi Town for business trips.
He questions if he can handle it and how to truly make Jin Xia happy. He reflects on their first meeting. Jin Xia joins him and tells him to do whatever he desires and that she will support him, just as he has always supported her decisions. Li Chuchen decides to confess something; their first meeting wasn't the day she moved in. Their true first encounter was six months earlier.
He recalls Jin Xia visiting the house with a real estate agent. Li Chuchen, as the 'ghost' perceived by others, observed her, wondering how long she would stay before being scared off. Jin Xia noticed the loose door and asked if the house was haunted. Li Chuchen, unable to use his spiritual energy at that moment, mentally dismissed the idea as impossible. Jin Xia joked that if there was a ghost, she'd want to befriend it, liking spooky things.
Li Chuchen internally responded he didn't need friends, puzzled by his inability to use his spiritual energy, wondering if it was depleted. Jin Xia saw him and he was surprised she could. Jin Xia noticed the withered cherry tree, and the agent explained its age and lack of care, suggesting it would blossom if someone bought and tended to the house.
The agent mentioned the previous owner moved to Taiwan Province and the house had been empty since the Republic of China era. Jin Xia found it looked new, suggesting it might have been renovated for sale. She explained she worked in the city but preferred to buy a house in the town for a sense of belonging, finding cities lacked it.
The agent mentioned the town's legend about the Wife-awaiting Stone, where a general waited thousands of years for his wife's return and turned to stone, believed to regain human form if his wife reincarnated. Tourists visited to touch the stone, hoping to find their own destiny. Jin Xia found the story sad, reflecting on the loneliness of waiting millennia for someone who might never return. At this point, Li Chuchen could use his spiritual energy again.
Jin Xia liked the house but found it too far. She could only afford a small one-bedroom in the city but wanted space for her grandmother. Renting felt like wasted money; she preferred paying a mortgage to have a place in old age. Unable to decide, she suggested flipping a coin. The agent teased her for being casual. Jin Xia replied that they say when you toss a coin, you already know your true preference, and she understood.
Li Chuchen internally wondered if she would buy it, and from that moment, he found himself hoping she would return. Back in the present, Li Chuchen tells Jin Xia she was there that day. He explains he didn't understand it then, but he does now. He wasn't drawn to her because he thought she was the person he was waiting for.
He thinks from the very first time he saw her, he understood what it meant to fall in love for the first time. Li Chuchen tells Jin Xia he loves her, and she says she loves him too. They embrace and kiss under the moonlight.
